Wound clip applicator



Oct 13, 1964 J. J. BRADY 3,152,336Y

WOUND CLIP APPLICATOR Filed July 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 112 INVENTOR.

(f4/w55 J.' 516,455/

Oct. 13, 1964 .1.J. BRADY 3,152,336

wouND CLIP APPLICATOR Filed July 2, 1962 2 sheets-sneer 2 INVENTOR.dames J Beno/ United States Patent O 3,152,336 WUND CLIP APPLICATR.lames l. Brady, North Hollywood, Calif., assigner to Technical Cil ToolCorporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filedl'uly 2, 1962, Ser. No, 266,998 1li Claims. (Cl. 1-349) This inventionrelates generally to surgical tools for closing incisions, wounds,lacerations, and the like openings in flesh. More particularly, thisinvention relates to improvements in tools combining both automaticdispenser and applicator means for applying wound clips for closing suchflesh openings.

Until recently, there had been a need for fundamental improvements inboth wound clips and the surgical tools by means of which a plurality ofsuch wound clips could be automatically fed to and applied by the toolin rapid succession. This need was met in substantial measure by certainimprovements in magazine feed type wound clip applicators of the kinddisclosed in U.S. Letters Patent Nos. 2,733,441 and 2,758,302.

Such an applicator tool comprises in brief a unitary apparatus assembly,adapted to be held in and operated by one hand for applying a pluralityof wound clips, one at a time, in succession. Such unitary assemblyincludes two main components, namely an elongated hollow body orhousing7 adapted to function as a magazine type feed mechanism for aplurality of wound clips contained therein, and a forceps mechanism inconjunction therewith adapted to receive such wound clips from themagazine, one at a time, and to apply them in folded clamping engagementacross the flesh opening to be closed.

Such forceps mechanism includes a pair of spring arms attached at theirrearward ends to opposite exterior sides of the housing and such armscarrying a pair of jaws on their forward ends positioned adjacent theforward end of their housing to receive and grasp the aforesaid woundclips, one at a time, and by inward hand compression of the forceps armsto bend each such wound Clip, as aforesaid, into folded clampingengagement with the iiesh adjacent the opening to be closed. The headend of the housing is provided with an opening shaped to prevent escapeof the wound clips therefrom until the wound clips are grasped by andpartially bent into wound gripping shape by the forceps jaws, and therear end of the housing is provided with an opening having a closuremember openable to permit loading of the housing with a supply ofstacked wound clips and when closed, to contain a spring pressed meansfor advancing the wound clips to forceps gripping position at theforward end of the housing.

All of the before mentioned components of the wound clip applicator wereheretofore in substantially pennanently assembled form and thuspresented at the points of interconnection of the components, numerousrelatively small clearance spaces, crevices, and corners which renderedthe necessary cleaning and sterilization procedures diiicult and theresults thereof uncertain.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a wound clipapplicator generally of the hereinbefore mentioned kind, but soconstructed as to be easily and entirely disassemblable for separatecleaning and sterilization of each component part.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a wound clipapplicator of the aforesaid type, which is of improved and simplifiedconstruction.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide such a woundclip applicator in which the housing head and forceps jaws are ofimproved and simplified design, having improved smoothness andpositiveness of the feeding of wound clips, and more positive holding ofsuch wound clips in the housing head and grasping thereof between theforceps jaws during the initiation of the application of the clips to awound.

The objects of the invention are accomplished in general by a novel andsimplified assembly arrangement, whereby the several components of theapplicator tool including the housing, forceps arms, magazine rear endclosure, and magazine head mechanism are each arranged to be completelyassemblable or disassemblable by resiliently controlled, quick connectand disconnect means.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of novelty of thisinvention will be evident hereinafter.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration a presently preferredembodiment of the invention and in which like reference charactersdesignate the same or similar parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the entire assembly of the apparatusof this invention including a loading of wound clips.

FIGURE 2 is a shortened, longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus ofFlGURE l, showing the forceps portion of the device and the jaws thereofin open, wound clip receiving and grasping position.

FlGURE 3 is a shortened, longitudinal sectional view similar to FIGURE.2, showing the forceps and the jaws thereof in closed position with awound clip grasped therebetween in folded, wound gripping position.

FlGURE 4 is a forward end elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a rear end elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FGURE 6 is an exploded View, in perspective, of the entire assembly ofthe apparatus of FIGURE 1, showing the parts thereof, including aloading stack of wound clips, in disassembled condition.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal elevational view of the forwardend of the wound clip applicator portion of this invention, showing themanner of removing or inserting a clip retainer rack in connection withthe loading and unloading of a stack of wound clips.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary detailed perspective view of aforceps jaw and a wound clip therein.

Referring now to the drawings, and primarily to FIG- URES 1 and 6, thebody or housing portion of the apparatus, as indicated by the referencenumeral 1li, consists of an elongated, rectangular cross sectionedtubular or channel shaped metal member having a rectangular crosssectioned passage of uniform inside dimensions extending axiallytherethrough from end to end, such passage being adapted to slidablyreceive therein a loading stack of wound clips and a wound clipadvancing mechanism, as shown generally at 14 and 16, respectively, andwhich will be more fully described hereinafter. The housing is slottedlongitudinally throughout the length of a front wall thereof, as shownat 12, to permit visual inspection of the number or" clips in the stackof clips 14 and the clip advancing mechanism 16 therein.

A pair of opposed forceps arms 18 and 2), preferably, although notnecessarily, of identical shape, are positioned along the opposite sides22 and 24, respectively, of the housing 1li. Such forceps arms 18 and2t) are preferably composed of metal, which is resilient in bending, andeach arm is formed with a thickened rear end body attachment portion 26,an adjacent relatively thin, more flexible portion 2S, a widened,outwardly inclined intermediate portion Sil, a further widening,inwardly sloping grip portion 32, another still wider, outwardly slopinggrip portion 34, and a relatively narrow forward end portion 36, whichis bent inwardly substantially at ld right angles at 38 to form aninturned thrust portion 49, which terminates at its inner end in forcepsjaw 42.

The aforementioned forceps arms are attached at their attachmentportions 26 adjacent their rearward ends to the opposite sides 22 and 24of the housing by means of quick detachable connections, suchconnections consisting, in each of the arms, of a retainer pin 46iixedly extending inwardly through the thickened attachment portion 26-with the inwardly projecting end portion of such pin projectingrelatively loosely into a retainer hole formed, as shown at 43 and Sil,in the side walls 22 and 24 of the housing. The attachment portion 26 ofthe forceps arms 1S and 2i) are clamped in position, with some freedomfor rocking movement, against the outer surfaces of the side walls 22and 24 of the housing, and the inner ends of the before mentioned pins 6are retained in engagement with the holes 4S and Sd, by means of a dat,generally U-shaped metal spring member S2 which extends crosswise of therearward end position of the housing 10. The opposite ends of the springmember S2 terminate in a pair of inturned lugs 54 and 56, which makepivotal engagement within a pair of retaining holes 58 and 60 in the armattachment portion 26.

The inwardly sloping grip portions 32 and adjoining outwardly slopinggrip portions 34 of the oppositely positioned forceps arms together havea configuration which, upon positioning the body portion 15.2 in thepalm of one hand, falls naturally into a secure gripping position,principally between the thumb and foreiinger. The applicator is thusadapted to facile operation by one hand with freedom from the tendencyto squirt out of ones grip, as sometimes was the case with priordevices.

The spring member 52 being pivotable upon the lugs 54 and 56, whichextends into the holes 58 and 6h in the attachment portion of theforceps arms 18 and 2%, respectively, as aforesaid, is thereby enabledto serve also as an end closure member or gate for the rear end openingof the housing lil. The spring member 52 is thus swingably movablebetween a sidewise position, as shown in phantom lines 52', clear of therearward end opening of the housing to permit insertion or withdrawaltherethrough of wound clips 14 and the advancing mechanism 16, and anormal position extending across the end of the opening of the housing,to support and contain therein the feed clips 14 and advancing-mechanism16.

Each of the before mentioned forceps jaws 42 is formed, as best shown inFIGURE 8, with a crosswise extending, inwardly overhanging flange 62joined "to the inner end of the before mentioned inturned thrust portiondil of the forceps arms by a crosswise extending, inwardly facing,arcuately recessed portion ed for retention and grasping of the ends ofwound clips, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The jaw flange 62 is slightlywider than the adjoining recessed portion 64- and thrust portion 4t?,thereby forming a pair of crosswise, outwardly protruding shoulders 66and 68. ln assembled position, the thrust portions 40 of the forcepsarms extend laterally movably through slots or cutouts 7d and 72 formedthrough the opposite forward end portions of the sides 22 and 24 of thehousing lil, and in the normal, opened position of the forceps arms, asbest seen in FIGURE 2, the shoulders 66 and 68 engage the inner marginalsurface of the housing walls adjacent the sides of said slots 70 and 72.The shoulders 66 and 68 thereby serve as stop means to limit the outwardopening movement of the forceps arms and jaws and position them suchthat only the overhanging flanges .62 of the jaws project inwardly intoand obstruct the forward end opening of the housing.

The form and construction of the wound clips 76 making up thehereinbefore referred to stack of wound clips 14 and the arrangement ofsuch wound clips in stacked form for loading the applicator device isdescribed in detail in U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,758,302 entitled WoundClip Loader Package and reference is made thereto for a completedisclosure thereof. However, briefly, each of the clips 76 is formed ofa generally rectangular shaped, thin metal strip which, as viewed in thedrawings, is shaped with a rearwardly bowed middle portion 78 androunded jaw engaging opposite ends Si? and 82. Formed adjacent therounded ends 89 and 82 of the wound clip 76' are double sets of pointedprongs 3d and 85 which project forwardly for interengagement in theilesh to which the clip is applied.

For the purpose of assembling a group of clips 76 in a preassembledstack of convenient size, as best shown in FIGURE 6, a holding rack 88is provided which extends through the clips and retains .them againstseparation, and for this purpose, each of the wound clips 76 is providedwith an elongated opening 90, which extends lengthwise of the centralportion of the clip. While such rack 8S is not essential to ltheoperation of this device, because the wound clips could be loaded intothe applicator one at a time, if desired, its use is neverthelessadvantageous for storage of predetermined numbers of the clips inreadiness for use, for their sterilization, and for facilitating therapid insertion and removal of groups of clips from the applicator. Thelength of the clip rack S8 may be varied, but a length has been chosenfor illustration herein, which holds twenty clips as a loading unit,this being a practical number for insertion in an applicator housing ofconvenient length. The rack 88 is made of a spring rod, which is bent toa generally U-shaped configuration having side legs 92 connectedtogether at the forward closed end in eifect by a flanged or crosswiseextending enlarged head portion 94. The free ends of legs 92 oppositethe head 94 are bent arcuately outwardly to provide outward projections96 for retention of the wound clips. The outward projections 96 and thelegs 92 are spaced apart such that the legs 92 and retaining projections96 may be pressed together suciently to pass through the centralopenings in each of the wound clips in a stack of such clips. After thelegs 92 have thus been passed through a stack of clips 76, they arereleased, and the legs 92 and flange projections 96 spring apart to bearagainst the opposite inner ends of the openings 90 in the clips with theprojections 96 bearing against the rear surface of the rearmost or lastclip in the stack. The

lengths of legs 92 between the head 94 and projections 96 are preferablyjust equal to the desired length of a full clip stack. The thusassembled stack of clips may, as before mentioned, be packaged,sterilized, or otherwise treated as a unit.

In operation of the applicator device, a stack of clips 14 with the rack8S in place within the clips is inserted with the head end 94 of `therack 88 foremost into the rear end opening of the applicator housing 16and moved up to the forward end of the applicator. The clip advancingmechanism 16 is then inserted into the rear end opening of the housing10 and the previously introduced stack of clips 14 is thereby urgedforwardly through the passage in housing 10 to the forward clip feedingposition, as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 7. Following this, the rack 88is withdrawn forwardly from the stack of clips and removed from thefront end of the applicator, as illustrated and as indicated by thearrow 11S in FIGURE 7. The clip advancing mechanism comprises a plungeror follower lilil, which takes the form of a forwardly facing U-shapedmember having side arms 102 and 1&4 adapted to slide guidely along theinner surface of the sides of the housing and to bear at their forwardslotted ends 106 and w8 against the under surfaces ofthe rounded ends ofthe rearmost wound clip in the stack of clips. The plunger or followerlili) is attached by suitable means to the forward end of a spring 119.The spring 110 is preferably formed, as shown, of dat strip spring metalbent into a series of flat sided convolutions adapted to :.3 fitslidably within the rectangular passage within the housing 10. Wheninstalled, the rearward end 112 of the spring bears against the innertop surface of the spring closure member 52 which, as hereinbeforedescribed, extends crosswise of the rearward end portion of the housing10 and is pivotable between closed and opened positions.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the longitudinal rectangular passageextending throughout the length of housing 10 is of uniform insidedimensions from end to end, and thus the forward end of the housingitself is openly unobstructed and would permit the wound clips 14 toescape freely outwardly therefrom under the force of spring 110 of theadvancing mechanism 16, if it were not for the before mentioned inwardlyprojecting anges 62 of the forceps jaws 42, which extend into thepassage and initially override the forward surface of the rounded ends89 and 82 of the foremost wound clip. Forward movement of the stack ofclips 14 is thus prevented until the leading clip has been partiallyfolded together by the forceps jaws 42, as best shown in FIGURE 3, whilethe rounded ends 80 and 82 of the clips remain grasped within thearcuate recesses of portions 64 of the jaws. After folding of the woundclip by compression of the forceps arms together to the positionillustrated in FIGURE 3, subsequent release and return of the forcepsarms 36 to the fully opened position shown in FIGURE 2 permits releaseof such folded wound clip from the applicator which, in turn, permitsadvance of the next clip in the stack to a position at the forward endof the applicator against the overriding flanges 62 of the jaws 42 inreadiness for folding into gripping shape, as before described. Suchoperation is repeated for each wound clip, which is thus, in turn,advanced to the forward end of the housing.

As before mentioned, in the operation of the applicator device, theleading clip 76, as best shown in FIGURE 3, is initially held againstforward movement in kthe applicator and prevented from escape from theforward end thereof by the before mentioned overhanging flanges 62 ofthe forceps jaws 42, and in this position, the opposite jaw engagingends of clip 76 lie in grasped engagement within and between the arcuaterecessed portions 64 of the jaws, and also in this position, the clipprongs 84 and S6 protrude forwardly from the forward end of theapplicator in position to engage the flesh to which they are to beapplied. In use, the applicator is usually held with the axis of `thehousing 10 generally perpendicular to the skin area in which the clipsare to be applied. In such position, when lthe forceps arms 36 aresqueezed together in the hand of the operator, the forceps jaws 42 aredriven inwardly toward one another against the rounded opposite ends ofthe clip 76, with the result, by reason of the before mentioned initialbowed shape of the clip, that the clip is partially folded forwardlyabout its mid-section, thereby forcing the protruding prongs 84 and 86together toward one another into the flesh to which they are applied andthereby clamping and securing the esh between the pronged inner surfacesof the clip. The sides of the forward end opening of the housing 10 areprovided with semi-circular cutouts, as shown at 114 and 116, to provideclearance for the flesh, which is drawn up at the head of the applicatorbetween the wound clips.

Incident to the folding of the wound clip 76, as before described, thebowed center portion 7S of the clip 76 is displaced slightly rearwardly,as best shown in FIG- URE 3, and as this occurs, the bowed centerportion contacts the midportion of the next successive clip in the clipstack, thereby pushing the stack of clips rear- Wardly a short distancewithin the housing i@ against the forward force of the feed spring 110.The forward force of the spring 110 is thus maintained against the woundclip 76, thereby assisting in retaining the clip firmly gripped betweenthe forceps jaws during its application. After the leading wound cliphas been thus applied to the flesh and the forceps arms 36 releasedpermitting them to open and carry the jaws 42 into the open positionshown in FIGURE 2, the next wound clip is moved forwardly under theforce of the feed spring 110 and positioned between the forceps jaws 42and stopped at that position by the before mentioned overhanging lugs 62in readiness for the next wound clip applying operation corresponding tothat before described. The foregoing action contributes importantly tothe smoothness and positiveness of action of the applicator device.

An important feature of this invention, as hereinbefore mentioned, isthat the structure of the entire wound clip applicator and apparatus issuch that each and everyone of its complement parts is completelydisassemblable, such as to make all of the surfaces thereof completelyaccessible to the important cleaning, sterilization, and inspectionprocesses, and also by such construction, substantially all complicatedangular shapes, crevices, cracks, and the like are eliminated, whichcould harbor bacteria and the like undesirable substances. Anotheradvantage of the construction of this apparatus is that any one of theseveral parts may be made interchangeable and may be readily and quicklyreplaced. t is to be noted that the entire assembly and disassembly ofthe apparatus of this invention may be quickly performed by themanipulation of one single element in the assembly, namely, by thespring closure member- 52. Thus, by deecting the spring member 52 opensuiiicient to disengage the lugs 54 and 56 from the retainer holes 58and 60, all of the several parts of the assembly are immediatelyreleased frorn their assembled positionsA Also, by swinging the springmember 52 between the position shown at 52 in solid lines and that shownat 52 in phantom lines, the rear end of the applicator housing isrespectively closed or opened to permit insertion or withdrawal of thewound clip stacks and the wound clip advancing mechanism I6.

Materials suitable for construction of the various components of theapparatus of the invention are those which are substantially free fromcorrosion and not harmfully eected by heat and other sterilizationtreatment` For example, heat treated beryllium copper or, morepreferably, stainless steel may be used for the various parts of thedevice including the housing and forceps arms. The wound clips arepreferably made of a ductile, non-corrosive, non-septic material, suchas nickel silver.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown, which iscapable of fulfilling the objects and advantages sought, it is to beconsidered that other modifications and variations may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, asdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a wound clip applicator, apparatus comprising:

an elongated housing having opposite side walls forming a channelextending longitudinally therethrough for longitudinally slidablyreceiving therein a plurality of wound clips in superposed relationship,said housing having a front end opening communicating with said channel;a pair of forwardly opening, oppositely positioned slots in the forwardend of said housing, each such slot extending longitudinally from thefront end of each of said opposite side walls of said housing, and saidslots being narrower than the inside width of each of said side walls,thereby forming inwardly facing marginal surfaces extending along thelength of such slots;

a pair of forceps arms positioned opposite one another, each along theexterior of said side walls of said housing, said arms having inturnedforward end portions extending laterally movably through said side slotsinto said channel adjacent said front end opening, and the rear endportions of said arms having attachment portions for detachableattachment to said opposite side walls;

a crosswise extending head member formed on the inner end portion ofeach o-f said inturned forward end portions of said arms, such headmembers being positioned to engage the said marginal surfaces to limitthe outward movement and the maximum spacing apart of the said forwardend portions of said arms and to lock said forward ends of said armsmovably as aforesaid to the forward end portion of said housing;

and attachment means detachably attaching said attachment portions ofsaid arms to the exterior of said opposite Sides of said housing, saidattachment means normally preventing longitudinal movement of said armsand thereby preventing movement of said crosswise extending head membersthereof forwardly out of engagement with said slots, said arms beingthereby detachably attached at both ends thereof to said housing.

' 2. A wound clip applicator comprising:

an elongated housing having a channel extending longitudinallytherethrough for longitudinally slidably receiving therein a pluralityof wound clips in superposed relationship, said housing having a frontend opening which constitutes an unobstructed continuation of saidchannel through which said clips may pass;

resilient means within said channel for urging said wound clipsforwardly therein toward said front end openings;

a pair of swingable forceps arms positioned opposite one another alongopposite exterior sides of said housing, said arms having inturnedforward end portions terminating in jaws oppositely confronting oneanother across said channel adjacent the said front end opening, saidjaws including inwardly projecting means for engaging opposite endportions of such wound clips for initially preventing passage of suchclip forwardly through said front end opening, and constituting the onlyobstruction between said channel and said opening, and attachment meansdetachably attaching the rear end portions of said arms to said oppositeexterior sides of said housing including;

pin means in one of such elements adjacent the said attachment portionsengaging an aperture means in the other of such elements;

and resilient clamping means spanning the width of said housing and theattachment portions of said arms and detachably clampingly engaging saidattachment portions, whereby the said attachment portions of said armsare retained against the exterior surface of said opposite side walls ofsaid housing with said pin means and aperture means thereof held inengagement thereby.

V3. fn a wound clip applicator, apparatus comprising:

an elongated housing havin7 opposite side walls forming a channelextending longitudinally therethrough for longitudinally slidablyreceiving therein a plurality of Wound clips in superposed relationship,said housing having a front end opening communicating with said channel;

a pair of forwardly opening, oppositely positioned slots in the forwardend of said housing, each such slot extending longitudinally from thefront end of each of said opposite side walls of said housing, and saidslots being narrower than therinside width of each of said side walls,thereby forming inwardly facing marginal surfaces extending along thelength of such slots;

a pair of forceps arms positioned opposite one another, each along theexterior of said side Walls of said housing, said arms having inturnedforward end portions extending laterally movably through said side slotsinto said channel adjacent said front end opening, and the rear endportions of said arms having attachment portions for detachableattachment to said opposite side walls;

a crosswise extending head member formed on the inner end portion ofeach of said inturned forward end portions of said arms, such headmembers being positioned to engage the said marginal surfaces to limitthe outward movement and the maximumspacing apart of the said forwardend portions of said arms `and to lock said forward ends of said armsmovably as aforesaid to the forward end portion of said housing;

and attachment means detachably attaching said attachment portions ofsaid arms to the exterior of said opposite sides of said housing, andnormally preventing longitudinal movement of said arms relative to saidhousing and thereby preventing movement of said crosswise extending headmembers thereof forwardly out of engagement with said slots, saidattachment means including;

pin means in one of such elements adjacent the said attachment portionsengaging an aperture means in the other of such elements;

and resilient clamping means spanning the width of said housing and theattachment portions of said arms and detachably clampingly engaging saidattachment portions, whereby the said attachment portions of said armsare pressed against the exterior surface of said opposite side walls ofsaid housing with said pin means and aperture means thereof held inengagement thereby.

4. Wound applicator apparatus according to claim 3 in which the oppositeends of said resilient clamping means engage the attachment portions ofsaid arms intermediate said pin means and the rear ends of saidattachment portions, whereby upon swinging said forward end portions ofsaid arms closingly toward one another about such attachment means, saidclamping means is resiliently widened in opposition to such motion andthereby biases said forward end portions of said arms to a fully openedposition relative to one another.

5, Wound clip applicator apparatus accor ing to claim 4 in which theengagement between the opposite ends of said resilient clamping meansand said attachment portions of said arm is pivotal about a transverseaxis, whereby said resilient means is swingable between positionsrespectively covering and uncovering the rear end opening of saidchannel extending through said housing.

6. In a wound clip applicator, apparatus comprising:

an elonated housing having opposite side walls forming a channelextending longitudinally therethrough for longitudinally slidablyreceiving therein a plurality of wound clips in superpositioned stackedrelationship, said housing having a front end opening communicatingunobstructedly with said channel for discharging said clips forwardlytherethrough;

Yresilient means within the rearward portion of said channel for urgingsaid wound clips forwardly therein toward said front end opening;

a pair of swingable forceps arms positioned opposite one another alongopposite exterior sides of said side walls, said arms having inturnedforward end portions terminating in jaws oppositely confronting oneanother across said front end opening, and the rear end portions of saidarms having attachment means detachably attaching such rear end portionsof said arms to said opposite sides of said side walls of said housing;

and a head portion formed on each of said jaws adaptedl to engage theinner surfaces of said side walls adjacent the said front end opening,thereby lhniting the outward swing of said forward end portions of saidarms and the maximum spacing apart of said jaws, said head eachincluding an inwardly projecting, undercut portion adapted to extendinto said channel adiacent said front end opening to overridingly engagethe opposite ends of the foremost wound clip in the stack of clips urgedforwardly in said channel, whereby such clip is initially positionedbetween said jaws and escape thereof from said front end opening isprevented, and whereby upon compression of said arms toward one anotherand the attendant inward movement of said jaws toward one another, theopposite ends of such foremost wound clips are thereby driventransversely inwardly toward one another, thereby bending such woundclip into a U-shape clamping configuration.

7. In a wound clip applicator, apparatus comprising:

an elongated housing having opposite side walls forming a channelextending longitudinally therethrough for longitudinally slidablyreceiving therein a plurality of wound clips in superposed stackedrelationship, said housing having a front end opening formed of anunobstructed continuation of said channel through which such clips couldescape in the absence of retaining means;

resilient means within the rearward portion of said channel for urgingsaid wound clips forwardly therein toward said front end opening;

a pair of oppositely positioned side openings extending laterallythrough the said opposite side walls of said housing adjacent said frontend opening;

a pair of swingable forceps arms positioned opposite one another alongopposite exterior sides of said side walls, the said arms havinginturned forward end portions terminating in jaws, and the rear endportions of said arms terminating in attachment means detachablyattaching such rear end portions of said arms to opposite exterior sidesof said side walls in such position that the said inturned portions ofsaid arms extending laterally movably through said side openings andsaid jaws are positioned adjacent opposite inner sides of said sidewalls and confront one another across said channel adjacent said frontend opening;

and a crosswise extending head formed on each of said jaws adapted toengage the inner surfaces of said side walls adjacent the edge of itsrespective one of said side openings, thereby limiting the outward swingof said forward end portions of said arms and the maximum spacing apartof said jaws;

and an inwardly projecting undercut retaining means extending into saidchannel from each of said jaws to restrict the width of said channel andoverridingly engage the opposite ends of the foremost wound clip in astick of clips urged forwardly in said channel, whereby escape of suchclips from the said front end opening is prevented and whereby, uponcompression of said arms toward one another and the attendant inwardmovement of said jaws toward one another, the opposite ends of suchforemost wound clip are thereby driven transversely inward toward oneanother, thereby deforming said wound clip into a U- shaped clampingconguration.

8. In a wound clip applicator, apparatus comprising:

an elongated housing having opposite side walls forming a channelextending longitudinally therethrough for longitudinally slidablyreceiving therein a plurality of wound clips in superposed stackedrelationship, said housing having a front end opening formed of anunobstructed continuation of said channel through which such clips couldescape in the absence of retaining means;

resilient means within the rearward portion of said channel for urgingsaid Wound clips forwardly therein toward said front end opening;

a pair of oppositely positioned side openings extending laterallythrough the said opposite side walls of said housing adjacent said frontend openings;

a pair of swingable forceps arms positioned opposite one another alongopposite exterior sides of said side Walls, the said arms havinginturned forward end portions terminating in jaws, and the rear endportions of said arms terminating in attachment means detachablyattaching such rear end portions of said arms to opposite exterior sidesof said side walls in such position that the said inturned portions ofsaid arms extending laterally movably through said side openings andsaid jaws are positioned adjacent opposite inner sides of said sidewalls and confront one another across said channel adjacent said frontend openings, said attachment means including;

pin means in one of such elements adjacent the attachment end thereofengaging an aperture means in the other of such elements adjacent theattachment end thereof;

and resilient clamping means spanning the width of said housing and theattachment portions of said arms and detachably clampingly engaging thesaid arms adjacent said attachment end thereof, whereby the attachmentends of said clamps are yieldingly forced against the exterior surfaceof said opposite side walls of said housing with said pin means andaperture means thereof thereby retained in engagement with one another;

and a crosswise extending head formed on each of said jaws adapted toengage the inner surfaces of said side walls adjacent the edge of itsrespective one of said side openings, thereby limiting the outward swingof said forward end portions of said arms and the maximum spacing apartof said jaws;

and an inwardly projecting undercut retaining means extending into saidchannel from each of said jaws to restrict the width of said channel andoverridingly engage the opposite ends of the foremost wound clip in astack of clips urged forwardly in said channel, whereby escape of suchclips from the said front end opening is prevented and whereby, uponcompression of said arms toward one another and the attendant inwardmovement of said jaws toward one another, the opposite ends of suchforemost wound clip are thereby driven transversely inward toward oneanother, thereby deforming said wound clip into a U- shaped clampingconfiguration.

9. A wound applicator according to claim 8 in which the opposite ends ofsaid resilient clamping means engages the attachment ends of said armsintermediate said pin means and the rear ends of said arms, whereby uponswinging the forward end portions of said arms closingly toward oneanother about such attachment means said clamping means is resilientlywidened in opposition to such motion and thereby biases said forward endportions of said arms toward a fully opened position relative to oneanother.

l0. A wound clip applicator according to claim 9 in which the engagementbetween the opposite ends of said resilient clamping means and saidattachment ends of said arms is pivotal about a transverse axis, wherebysaid resilient means is swingable between positions respectivelycovering and uncovering the rear end opening of said channel extendingthrough said housing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,733,441 White Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 456,332 Great Britain Nov.2, 1936 331,418 Italy Nov. 6, 1935

1. IN A WOUND CLIP APPLICATOR, APPARATUS COMPRISING: AN ELONGATEDHOUSING HAVING OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS FORMING A CHANNEL EXTENDINGLONGITUDINALLY THERETHROUGH FOR LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLY RECEIVINGTHEREIN A PLURALITY OF WOUND CLIPS IN SUPERPOSED RELATIONSHIP, SAIDHOUSING HAVING A FRONT END OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHANNEL; APAIR OF FORWARDLY OPENING, OPPOSITELY POSITIONED SLOTS IN THE FORWARDEND OF SAID HOUSING, EACH SUCH EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM THE FRONTEND OF EACH OF SAID OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS OF SAID HOUSING, AND SAID SLOTSBEING NARROWER THAN THE INSIDE WIDTH OF EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS, THEREBYFORMING INWARDLY FACING MARGINAL SURFACES EXTENDING ALONG THE LENGTH OFSUCH SLOTS; A PAIR OF FORCEPS ARMS POSITIONED OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER, EACHALONG THE EXTERIOR OF SAID SIDE WALLS OF SAID HOUSING, SAID ARMS HAVINGINTURNED FORWARD END PORTIONS EXTENDING LATERALLY MOVABLY THROUGH SAIDSIDE SLOTS INTO SAID CHANNEL ADJACENT SAID FRONT END OPENING, AND THEREAR END PORTIONS OF SAID ARMS HAVING ATTACHMENT PORTIONS FOR DETACHABLEATTACHMENT TO SAID OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS; A CROSSWISE EXTENDING HEADMEMBER FORMED ON THE INNER END PORTION OF EACH OF SAID INTURNED FORWARDEND PORTIONS OF SAID ARMS, SUCH HEAD MEMBERS BEING POSITIONED TO ENGAGETHE SAID MARGINAL SURFACES TO LIMIT THE OUTWARD MOVEMENT AND THE MAXIMUMSPACING APART OF THE SAID FORWARD END PORTIONS OF SAID ARMS AND TO LOCKSAID FORWARD ENDS OF SAID ARMS MOVABLY AS AFORESAID TO THE FORWARD ENDPORTION OF SAID HOUSING; AND ATTACHMENT MEANS DETACHABLY ATTACHING SAIDATTACHMENT PORTIONS OF SAID ARMS TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID OPPOSITE SIDESOF SAID HOUSING, SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS NORMALLY PREVENTING LONGITUDINALMOVEMENT OF SAID ARMS AND THEREBY PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF SAID CROSSWISEEXTENDING HEAD MEMBERS THEREOF FORWARDLY OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAIDSLOTS, SAID ARMS BEING THEREBY DETACHABLY ATTACHED AT BOTH ENDS THEREOFTO SAID HOUSING.